A stepfather recently shared his heartbreak on Reddit’s “Off My Chest” forum, revealing his pain when his stepdaughter asked her biological father to walk her down the aisle, despite the stepfather covering the entire cost of her wedding. For over ten years, he had been a steadfast presence in her life, providing both financial and emotional support. He even paid for her $40,000 college tuition and bought her a car.

Although he wasn’t legally married to her mother, the stepfather had fully embraced his role as a father, hoping that his love and support would be recognized. His disappointment was profound during the wedding when it became clear that, despite all his efforts, she chose her biological father—a man who had repeatedly let her down.

At the wedding reception, the stepfather took the opportunity to deliver an emotional toast. He reflected on his decade with the family and how he had loved and supported his stepdaughter as if she were his own. “I’ve been in your life for ten years, supporting you and loving you like my own,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

What hurt him most was the stark contrast between his own contributions and the lack of support from the biological father. Despite the pain, the stepfather tried to understand his stepdaughter’s feelings. “I understand her love for her biological father and her desire to keep him in her life, even though he never supported her financially,” he reflected.